FAQs
We've gathered answers to our most frequently asked questions, covering everything from when you will receive your exam results to how to become an approved trainer. For questions about a specific certification or product, please see the product tab.
FAQs per product
SFIA Assessments
There are three types of assessment available:
- Self-Assessment
- As the SFIA framework is available, free of charge, for personal use, individuals can do their own self-assessment. By accessing the available resources from SFIA Foundation, individuals can select the skills, compare their own work experience against the skill descriptions and determine which level they feel they operate at.
- Independent Assessment
- A skills assessment can be conducted by the individual’s line manager, HR manager, academic supervisor or similar, as long as that person has experience of using the SFIA framework.
- Certified Assessment
- A certified assessment is carried out by an approved SFIA Assessor using an approved assessment scheme method. If the applicant is successful, a digital badge is awarded, demonstrating the individual has been independently verified as working at that skill level.
All assessments will require the individual to collate evidence that they have been performing at the skill level being claimed. For a certified assessment, the assessor may also collect evidence from colleagues and peers. An assessment interview may also be required.
Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) Certification
Today most companies can’t operate without IT. The systems and processes they support are so critical, their IT landscape has to be reliable. Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) is a method developed by Google to manage services. Thanks to this approach, systems are more reliable and resilient.
The SRE Fundamentals training course gets participants acquainted with the basic principles of SRE, learn how SRE relates to DevOps and what business benefits come with the use of SRE.
Topics include:
- Monitoring, testing, infrastructure, build, and deployment automation within SRE.
- Measure the right points in the value stream.
- Conduct blameless post-mortems.
- Encourage feedback and transparency.
- Identify key characteristics of the operational and organizational model for Site Reliability Engineering (SRE).
- Apply SRE best practices Continuous Improvement.
- Promote a Safe-to-Fail environment within your organization.
The SRE Fundamentals exam is available in English.
SRE Fundamentals courses are generally delivered over 3 days.
The structure of the SRE Fundamentals exam is:
- 60 minutes
- 45 multiple choice questions
- Pass mark: 30 out of 45
- Closed book (no reference materials permitted)
The SRE Fundamentals exam does not expire and there are no on-going maintenance requirements.
Sourcing Governance
APMG International’s “Sourcing Governance Foundation” qualification aims to provide individuals with knowledge of the key concepts of Outsourcing and Sourcing Governance, and how they can be applied. Undertaking the course and successfully passing the examination qualifies an individual for COS-FP (Certified Outsourcing Specialist™ - Foundation Principles) recognition from the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (IAOP®).
Sourcing Governance Foundation has one main supporting publication, published by Van Haren Publishing, entitled IT Outsourcing - An Introduction. This can be purchased from APMG Business Books.
The exam is currently only available in English and Japanese. Further translations may follow subject to market and regional demand.
The IT Outsourcing - An Introduction publication is currently available in English and Japanese. Further translations may follow subject to market and regional demand.
Supporting accredited training courses are generally delivered over 2 days, however it is well worth investigating with individual providers, as many will offer tailored and blended learning solutions. Courses are likely to involve a degree of pre-course work and homework during the course.
Candidates must achieve a score of 28/40 (70%) to pass the examination.
STAR® Manager Certification
A Practitioner Session is a 90-minute, interactive small group Zoom session with up to 3 other learners and supervised by an expert Notion Tutor. It provides the opportunity for you to participate in a structured group session to further embed and develop the skills you’ve learnt on the programme. You’ll discuss, share insights and then practise some of the tools you’ve learned by coaching the other participants, demonstrating active living and giving and and receiving feedback. The Notion Tutor also provides specific verbal and written feedback to each participant. Participation in two Practitioner Sessions is a requirement for learners on the Certified STAR® Manager Practitioner programme and for candidates wanting to upgrade from Certified STAR® Manager to the Level 6 Certified Master Coach graduate qualification programme.
If you ‘Request a Demo’ you will be given access to the demo programme, Exploring STAR® Manager, for 2 weeks. The demo programme contains a look inside the programme, videos showing how many of the programme’s interactive features work and a video case study. The Notion team will be delighted to work with you to provide you with all of the information that you need in order to make a purchase decision.
The standard license length is 6 months for each 10 module programme purchased. ie. 6 months for STAR® Coach (10 modules) or 12 months for STAR® Manager (20 modules) , from the date of login details being issued. During your license period, you’ll have full access to your STAR® programme, including Live Learning Stations.
We recommend you aim to spend around 1-hour per week working on the programme, with the aim to complete a module a week. This time can be divided across a number of activities, such as completing the eLearning module, carrying out other programme activities, completing workplace Missions and reflecting on your performance in the Learning Logs.
The programme is designed so that STAR® Coach can be completed in approx. 3 months and STAR® Manager Practitioner programme in 6 months.
Absolutely! The STAR® programme will provide you with great new tools to improve the engagement and motivation of your team members by using an ‘enquiry-led’ approach. You may find that the first ten modules that make up STAR® Coach are directly applicable to you, but there are also modules in STAR® Manager, such as Handling Challenging Conversations and Giving Great Feedback that will also be helpful in your role.
Completing the entire programme will undoubtedly give you a comprehensive set of practical skills to change your management style and to be able to support the development of others. Depending on your role and your objectives, you may also achieve transformative results from taking just the first set of 10 modules that make up STAR® Coach. The programme gives you complete flexibility and a number of options to choose the journey that your learners complete.
Technology Business Management (TBM) Certification
Training for TBM is available to book from Learning Tree International via their website
There are 40 multiple choice questions. The pass mark is 70%, so 28 correct answers must be given. The exam is closed book and there is an online proctor.
The cost of the examination is included in the course exam bundle from Learning Tree International.
The cost of re-sitting the examination is available on request from Learning Tree International.
The Foundation exam is only available in English.
TBM is a 3 day training course.
No, the exam is closed book.